Apparatus for constructing concrete tunnel linings



y 1943- o. LANCE 2,318,869

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE TUNNEL LININGS Filed Nov. 12 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oliver Lance Q MW o. LANCE 2,318,869

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE TUNNEL LIN-INGS May ll, 1943.

Filed Nov. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Shee't Z in witl llllll lllllllllll llllll l alluailwz ll.

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APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE TUNNEL LININGS Filed Nov. 12., 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet s mime/Mow May 11, 1942..v o. LANCE ,3

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE TUNNEL LININGS Filed Nov. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet '4' Patented May 11, 1943 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTIN G CON- CRETE TUNNEL LININ GS Oliver Lance, Las Vegas,- Nev.

Application November 12, 1941, Serial No. 418,807 4 Claims. (Cl. 25-1315) The present invention relates to an apparatus for constructing the lining of a tunnel and has for its primary object to apply the principleof slip form in the construction of tunnel linings employing the use of reenforced concrete, whereby the form can be moved progressively forward along the tunnel as the Work progresses.

A further object is to provide a framework upon which the form supporting apparatus is movably mounted and including circumferentially extending frame members which are ,embedded in the concrete as the same is poured whereby to reenforce the same.

Another object is to provide a concrete form for tunnel lining comprising a plurality of segments swingably mounted on an axially extending support adapted for rotatable movement relative to the support into their successive positions for receiving the poured concrete. A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of practical construction, which is well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended and which promotes economy in the construction of tunnel lining.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the manner in which the side walls of the lining are progressively formed and in a partly completed state.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail-of the axially extending supporting shaft.

,Figure 7 is an end elevational view of one of the form segments illustrating the jack employed for moving the form and with parts of the frame broken away and shown in section.

Figure 8 is a detail of the platform moving jack.

Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the platform moving jack.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the connecting segments for forming curves in the tunnel and Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating a group of the forms for constructing the curved section of the lining.

v Referring now to the drawings in detail the numeral 5 designates a plurality of circumferentially extending frame members positioned at spaced intervals along the tunnel. An arcuate stationary form I3 is provided for forming the bottom portion of the lining 4 and upon which the form I3 is supported after'becoming set, the frame members 5 being anchored therein, spaced parallel posts 6 rise from the form l3 and are connected at their upper ends by beams 1 which extend horizontally and are connected to the frame members 5, as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. Bridging the upstanding posts 6 and secured to the upper edges of the beams 1 is a horizontally extending beam 8 upon the upper edges of which are a plurality of brackets 9 arranged in pairs adjacent each side of the tunnel, each pair of the brackets having a roller l0 journalled therein.

Substantially at the center of the beam 8 is a bracket II for supporting a shaft [2 positioned axially of the circumferential frame members 5.

Swingably mounted on the shaft [2 is a plurality of form segments, each of said segments including an arcuate form l4 swingably suspended from the shaft I 2 by arms I5, each of the forms having side edges I 6 inclined longitudinally to decrease the width of the form at its forward end.

Adjacent each of the longitudinal edges of the form is a track I! supported by blocks l8 on the upper surface of the form, the tracks being positioned on the inner edge of the blocks as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 5 of the drawings. I

Mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame are a plurality :of platforms l9, each of the platforms including a floor 20 supported on cross beams 2| and longitudinally extending beams 22, the latter being mounted for movement on the rollers l0. 7

To the underside of the cross beams 2|, at the outer edges thereof, are a plurality of shaft supports 23 having rollers 24 journalled therein and adapted for engagement by the tracks I! of the forms [4 to support the same in an elevated position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. The platforms are movable independently of the forms and the rollers 24 may therefore be moved under the forms after the latter have been raised.

The platforms l9 are supported in overlapping stepped relation, as more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and suitably supported upon the floors 29 of each of the plat forms is a longitudinally extending endless conveyor 25, one end of each of these conveyors being positioned beneath a hopper 26 and the other end of the conveyor terminating above the hopper of the adjacent conveyor.

Hangers 21 are supported from the upper edge of the circumferential frame members for supporting a conduit 28 through which concrete is fed under pressure for discharging the same into the endmost hopper, as shown at the left in Figures 1 and 2. Laterally extending discharge pipes 29 also extend from opposite sides of each of the hoppers, the discharge ends of the pipe 29 terminating between the forms l4 and the adjacent side Walls of the tunnel as shown in Figure 5, and by means it will be apparent that the concrete may be poured behind the forms 14 to form the lining for the tunnel.

For adjusting the forms upwardly along the sides of the tunnel, from their bottommost position, a plurality of jacks 33 are provided having their base portions abutting the bottom of the upstanding posts 8 and operating against the form, as shown in Figures '7 of the drawings to raise the form to the desired position. The jacks 30 are preferably operated by compressed air from a suitable source of supply or by hand.

Supported on top of the shaft I2 is a rail 3| having spaced lugs 32 projecting from its opposite side edges and to the platform l9, at the underside thereof, are secured a pair of longitudinally extending beams 32' arranged in spaced parallelism. To the beams 32' are secured air jacks 33 each having a rod 34 projecting from one end thereof, each of said rods having a pivoted extension 35 provided with a foot piece 35 with its extremity adapted for engagement with the lugs 32 and having an inclined edge'31 for riding over the lugs during forward movement of the platform in order that the foot will engage the next succeeding lug. The ends of the extension 25 are connected by a cross member 38. A roller 39 is also journalled on the beams 32 for engaging the rail 3| to support the center of the platform.

In Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings I have illustrated a construction for making turns from a straight line in the tunnel, which involves the provision of a connector 40 between the adjacent ends of the straight shaft l2 and to which are pivotally connected a pair of outer form segments 4| by arms 42 and a pair of inner form segments 43 by arms segments of 41 would have a slightly longer radius than the forms 43 and the forms 4| would be of sufiicient length to overlap the adjacent end of the regular form. The longitudinal edges of the adjacent forms 4| and 43 would be spaced slightly apart, as shown at 45 and through said space concrete would be poured behind the form 43 to fill in the space provided by the difierence in the radius between said forms as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 11 of the drawings. The forms 41 and 43 would be moved in the same manner as that described with respect to the forms i4.

From the shaft I2 is also suspended a track 46 by means of hangers M, the track being provided with hooks 43 and to which the forms may be attached, after they have been dismantled at the rear end of the machine, for moving the same forwardly into a new position.

Since the longitudinal edges of the forms are 44. Each of the outer form inclined, each of the right and left hand sections would form a spiral around the tunnel running in opposite directions with the lower end of the spiral at the front end of the concrete as the same is poured and the upper end of the forms at the rear of the pour.

These forms would be moved from their lowermost position until their upper edges passed the spring line of the tunnel by means of the manually operated jacks 30 until the lower edge of the tracks [1 are adapted to be supported on the rollers 24. With the forms in this position, as the platform moves forwardly on a horizontal plane, the roller 24 in riding along the tracks I! will gradually raise the form until the end of the tracks are reached.

When the forms reach a point Where the arch section begins an arch formed section is then placed in position and supported on suitable struts connected to the beams 1.

The moving platform would be moved forwardly far enough to be out of the way and the conduit '28 would extend to the rear of the empty arch form and concrete pumped into the forms by suitable means.

The conduit 28 is constructed in sections and when the first arch section is poured the conduit would be disconnected and the concrete would then be pumped into the hoppers that are mounted on the moving platform until the second length of form had been placed in the arch position.

The platforms and movable form sections are constructed in suitable length, approximately twenty feet, and when the upper edges of the movable forms have been raised to a point immediately below the beams l the latter will be removed placing the weight of the machine on the stationary form I4 and the post 6, thus allowing the forms to pass the ends of the beam 8. In placing the invention in operation, the beams 1 and 8 are secured in position in the tunnel and the longitudinal shaft I2 is then mounted thereon, after which several sections of the stationary form I4 are placed in position on the intial bottom section of the lining 4, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The movable forms [4 are then suspended from the shaft l2 and when the erection has reached this stage, the pouring of the concrete may begin at the lower portion of each side of the tunnel. After the concrete has set the required time, the forms i4 would then be moved upwardly along the walls of the tunnel in any suitable manner, preferably by means of jacks so asto move the forms into their successive positions.

The beams 1 and 8 are constructed in sections so that the same may be removed after the concrete in the bottom half of the tunnel has set enough to support the weight of theform.

In constructing the lining at the upper portion of the tunnel, the forms 14 are swung upwardly sufficiently to enable the rollers 24 on the platforms to move under the tracks I! whereby the forms M are then supported in a desired position and the platform sections are then moved forwardly into a desired position forpouring the concrete behind the forms. This process continues until every length of form and platform is in operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for constructing concrete tunnel linings comprising a frame including removable transverse frame members supported in the tunnel, a stationary concrete form secured at the base of the frame, and a concrete form swingably suspended from the frame and movable circumferentially in the tunnel.

2. An apparatus for constructing concrete tunnel linings comprising a frame including removable transverse frame members supported in the tunnel, a stationary concrete form secured at the base of the frame, a plurality of concrete forms swingably suspended from the frame and movable circumferentially from opposite sides of the stationary form into successive supporting positions, and means for pouring concrete behind said forms.

3. An apparatus for constructing concrete tunnel linings comprising a frame including removable transverse frame members supported in the tunnel, a stationary concrete form secured at the base of the frame and a plurality of concrete forms swingably suspended from the frame and movable circumferentially from opposite sides of the stationary form into successive supporting positions, a platform 'movably carried by the transverse frame members and means carried by the platform for supporting the movable forms in a predetermined elevated position and adapted to simultaneouslyiraise the forms upon the movement of the platform.

4. An apparatus for constructing concrete tunnel linings comprising, a stationary form adapted to have concrete poured behind the same to provide the bottom portions of the lining, said bottom portions of the lining, when set constituting a support for the stationary form, posts rising from the stationary form, a platform removably supported on said posts, and a plurality of movable forms carried by the platform.

OLIVER LANCE. 

